We have recently welcomed our 100th school to join the Network!
Breathe Education Wellbeing Census
Researchers from the University of Warwick would like to understand the wellbeing and mental health of children in the West Midlands.
Students will be asked to fill in a survey on a variety of mental health topics such as happiness, connectivity, friendship etc. In return schools will receive a dashboard that helps staff understand their pupils responses.
Schools will be asked to share permission with parents and a survey that students can fill in.
For more information please contact Webstej3@aston.ac.uk or one of the Schools Research Network team here.
Traumatic Brain injury
Researchers from Coventry University want to work with individuals with brain injuries and educators or parents/carers of those with brain injuries to understand their perspectives.
Schools will simply be asked to share information with school staff and parents/carers.
For more information please contact bhellas@coventry.ac.uk or one of the Schools Research Network team here.
Misinformation study
The University of Wolverhampton is researching how young people process misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories. This study has come about because of a a 2021 UCL report that showed a rise in students discussing these topics and a lack of teacher resources to support.
Schools will be asked to share information about the study and young people can choose to take part in a questionnaire if they are interested. Upon completion of the study, schools will be offered training sessions on the psychology of misinformation, disinformation and harmful beliefs.
For more information please contact D.Martin8@wlv.ac.uk or one of the Schools Research Network team here.
Public Health investigation into Vape content
The use of vapes amongst children and young people are on the rise. Whilst vapes can be seen as a healthier alternative to smoking recent research has suggested that vapes may contain substances that are harmful for children and young people's health. To understand the types of substances that are being included in vapes, often without the users knowledge, researchers from Public Health would like to analyse vape content.
Schools will be asked to donate the vapes that have been confiscated from pupils to be sent for analysis. A member of the study team will collect the vapes so that schools do not need to send the vapes or travel to deliver them. Once the vapes have been analysed, they will be destroyed, and the anonymous information collected will then be used to inform public health information and future interventions. Findings can then be shared with participating schools if they are interested.
For more information please contact hayley.sharrod-cole@nhs.net or one of the Schools Research Network team here.
D-CYPHER Study - The DNA, Children and Young Poeples Health Resource
Schools will be asked to send or email study information to pupils and parents/guardians. Those interested will be able to get in touch with the study team to take part.
The study is looking to create a large bank of information that can be used to understand various health conditions and treatments for children. There are 5 steps to take part:
1) Register interest
2) Sign consent form
3) Complete questionnaire
4) Spit in a tube
5) Take part in future studies
Get in touch with the study team at: dcyphr@bioresource.nihr.ac.uk
The ELSA Study -Early Surveillance for Type 1 diabetes
Schools will be asked to send or email study information to pupils and parents/guardians.
Those interested will be able to register and consent to take part in the study online or by post. Parents can choose either a home-testing kit or in-school testing.
Together we will arrange a date for an ELSA clinic to be held in the school.
A team of nurses will come and carry out study activities including taking the fingerstick test from children who have consented.
If schools prefer not to have in-school fingerstick tests they can just send the study information out to parents for home testing.
For further information about the Schools Research Network, or to discuss how to become involved, please contact:
Email us at wm.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
with the subject marked as SCHOOL